Good Hearted Woman

Tanya would take under her wing every stray dog, cat or kid in the country if she could.  There is a family in town with a bunch of kids that live with their grandmother who is often sick.  When they are down to dust in the cupboards, the oldest boy, about 12 will show up at our house, a long walk from the city, and Tanya will put together a food hamper and a little cash.  It doesn't happen very often, maybe every month or two.

Last week there was a young boy about Masha's age or a little younger, riding his bicycle up and down our street, all alone.  Back and forth, back and forth, all day long.  Masha was here on Sunday afternoon which meant Maxim was here and Ivan, too.  Tanya called the little boy in from the street. 

Vladik was visiting his grandparents who bought a house at the end of the block three years ago. We had seen him before, just never on a bike until this year. He is 7 1/2 and has never been to school because he has, as he put it, "problems with his eyes and cannot speak well".  He squints terribly and has a very thick tongue making it difficult for him to say a lot of words.  He has been to "the doctor" and will likely start this fall in a special school where they can help him with his speech.  Other than that, Tanya says, he is a pretty bright kid.

Tanya introduced him to the three kids and clamped down hard when they started asking him to pronounce difficult words. She got them playing Russian Lotto and said to them, you help Vladik.  Maxim cottoned on right away and you could hear the four of them laughing and having a great time.

Yesterday, I saw Valdik and Maxim walking together down the road, talking and laughing.

I love my wife.